Hot, hot, hot

UPDATE: After the National Weather Service recorded a record high of 100 degrees in San Rafael on Tuesday, temperatures came back down yesterday and returned to the usual cool Marin summer today.

It is expected to drop back down to the low 70s for the weekend.

With very few public pools in San Anselmo or Fairfax and just three ice cream shops, residents mostly stayed indoors during the short heat wave. How did you cool down?

Both the San Anselmo and Fairfax Police Departments reported no heat-related calls this week. Though the elderly, children, and pets were advised to stay indoors, the worst of the extreme heat has passed.

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Aug. 24, 12:05 p.m.

When temperatures warmed yesterday, many residents welcomed the start of an Indian Summer after a relatively cool June and July. But, as the heat continues today and is expected to reach 107 degrees in San Anselmo an Fairfax, everyone is running for cover.

Parks and shops were largely empty during the late morning, as people stayed indoors and out of the heat.

At Memorial Park, Nellie Sell and her cousins, Shawn, Jimmy and Conn, had the park largely to themselves. But, even the promise of empty swings couldn't keep the group there as the sun continued to rise.

"I visualized this place as being more shaded," said Margaret Sell, who kept the kids hydrated with bottles of water and was carting everyone off to air-conditioning and promises of ice cream.

Children, elderly or those with medical conditions are advised to stay indoors or in the shade as temperatures rise throughout the afternoon.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also announced a second Spare the Air alert for today. Regional air quality and ground level ozone or smog will continue to reach levels considered unhealthy, according to the air district, though the worst air quality is expected to be in the East Bay and the South Bay.

"We've been very lucky this year," district spokeswoman Kristine Roselius said. "By this time last year we'd had 10 Spare the Air alerts."

Bay Area residents are urged to take public transportation, avoid grilling food outside and try not to use aerosol products such as hairspray. Smog is known to cause throat irritation and chest pain, and can be particularly harmful for young children and seniors, who are urged to stay inside and avoid strenuous physical activity during active Spare the Air alerts.

A strong ridge of high pressure off the California coast is credited with this week's warming trend, after a summer of unusually cool temperatures, and temperatures are expected to drop again this weekend.